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The Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback had appealed the punishment, which was related to NCAA
violations he committed while at Ohio State. Pryor entered the NFL supplemental draft instead of
serving a five-game ban with the Buckeyes after being involved in a cash-for-memorabilia scandal
that has put Ohio State under NCAA investigation.

“This smacks of a calculated effort to manipulate our eligibility rules in a way that undermines
the integrity of, and public confidence in, those rules,” Goodell said in his decision.

Pryor was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the supplemental draft on Aug. 22. He
originally said he would not contest the ban but changed his mind and filed the appeal through the
union.

“As we have done throughout this process, we will consult with Terrelle and support him in his
decision” on what to do next, NFL Players Association spokesman George Atallah said.

Pryor opted to give up his final season with the Buckeyes soon after coach Jim Tressel was
forced out of his job for failing to notify administrators about players — including Pryor —
trading memorabilia for cash and tattoos at a tattoo parlor.

The quarterback originally was barred from entering the supplemental draft, then was approved by
Goodell, with the proviso that he sit out five games.

Pryor may be activated by the Raiders after their game on Oct. 9.

“In my judgment, allowing players to secure their own ineligibility for college play in order to
avoid previously determined disciplinary consequences for admitted conduct reflects poorly not on
college football — which acted to discipline the transgressor — but on the NFL, by making it into a
sanctuary where a player cannot only avoid the consequences of his conduct, but be paid for doing
so,” Goodell said.

Warning to mimics

The NFL has reminded teams of the rule prohibiting defensive players from mimicking the offense’s
signal-calling cadence after Dallas accused the Washington Redskins of causing the Cowboys to
bungle several snaps.

As part of a memo sent to clubs this week, the league reiterates that it’s unsportsmanlike
conduct for defenders to use “acts or words” that are “designed to disconcert an offensive team at
the snap.”

Painter gets the start

Curtis Painter will make his first NFL start at quarterback for the Colts at Tampa Bay on Monday
night.

Kerry Collins is still recovering after suffering concussionlike symptoms on Sunday against
Pittsburgh, and his status is uncertain for the game.

Injuries down, so far

Even with some of the NFL’s top players out, there have been fewer season-ending injuries in
2011 than at this point a year ago.

There are 130 players on injured reserve compared with 142 through three games last season.

Some players and coaches were concerned the long lockout could lead to a rise in IR cases, but
Broncos safety Brian Dawkins said curtailed training camp workouts that were part of the new labor
accord helped keep veterans healthier heading into the regular season.